Woman murdered as she tends horse

A wealthy businesswoman was stabbed to death in a "frenzied" attack as she tended her horse in a stable.

Police took the unusual step of naming the prime suspect, her estranged boyfriend Stephen Griffiths. They also released a picture of him and warned that he is extremely dangerous.

Rana Faruqui, 35, dialled 999 after being repeatedly stabbed with a hunting knife but died before the emergency services arrived.

Griffiths, 38, lived with Ms Faruqui before they separated "acrimoniously" three months ago. Detectives said he had connections here and in France and have passed on his details to Interpol.

Detective Superintendent Steve Morrison of Thames Valley Police said that Ms Faruqui, of Farnham Common, Buckinghamshire, was walking her horse back to its stables at Jennings Farm in Burnham, Bucks, before the attack on Saturday.

A post mortem revealed that the keen horsewoman, who competed in equestrian competitions including one at Windsor Great Park where Prince Philip took part, died from a single stab wound to the chest and that the murder weapon was possibly a hunting knife.

Mr Morrison said: "Stephen Griffiths was last seen on the day before the murder, on 1 August, wearing a grey shirt and grey trousers. He had a good job but we are not prepared to comment on it.

"He is the ex-partner of Ms Faruqui and we are aware that it was an acrimonious split around three months ago.

"Rana's family are devastated by her death and for their sake we need to catch the person responsible as soon as possible.

"He could have parked anywhere in the country lanes around the field and taken a walk up to the field.

"We are appealing for this man or for anyone who recognises him to come forward. At this time we do not know where Stephen Griffiths is and there is a possibility that he has left the country.

"We are warning members of the public not to approach him as we are not sure what mental state he is in."

Mr Morrison confirmed that Interpol had been contacted about Mr Griffiths and added that the suspect had connections in west London, Slough, Brighton, East Sussex, Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent and Wales.

Mr Griffiths, of no fixed abode, is fluent in French having lived in France.

Ms Faruqui's family, who were too distressed to appear at the press conference, issued a written statement, that read: "Since Saturday, when Rana was so brutally taken from us we have been trying to come to terms with the loss of a beautiful much loved daughter, sister and auntie.

"To everybody else who knew her, she was a loyal, generous, and a loving friend.

"She had an insatiable appetite for life, expressed through her love for horses, animals and her devotion and commitment to her friends and family.

"Rana never failed to charm, amuse and entrance everyone who met her. She was truly unique.

"While Rana can never be replaced and nothing can ever bring her back, the person responsible for extinguishing such a bright light is still at large and must be caught and brought to justice."

Mr Griffiths is white, about 6ft 3ins, of heavy build, with short receding dark hair and a prominent nose. He speaks with a slight Liverpool accent and he is thought to be driving a black C-class Mercedes, registration number LF51 GFO.

The keen horsewoman was a member of the Windsor Park Equestrian Club and last competed four weeks before her death.

She competed in the novice pony section - a different section to the Duke of Edinburgh - but they are believed to have met again at an event in May.